Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1887-10-27
DAK0TA'S INSANE AsyIuue
Description of the Hospital ),
Jamestown-A Model In. v
stitution.
One Of the SeYerest Storm, =
knoWn-Various Interesting
Items.

The people of Dakota NAV wall
proud of their asylums for the ins,r, ~ ~.
she very credtable manner in which ~. ~
are conducted. There ara two hosni,,,..
this nature, one at Yankton and the o,h.'
at jamestown, in The northern part oia.
territory. This is truly modern -, -,
model institution, built and conducoa :.
on scientific and humane principles n r
kota, only a few years ago wild and sra
posed inhospitable region, is to. div n,
home of large and prosperous popnl,,;o,
active, eager and enterprising, and in tdu,
catlonal and philantnropic work far n
advance of older commuu ties. Tie t,,
tory is larger than all OF New England ana md
Where now are splrcey s,t.led homs, a.
coming years shall see 'A'
AS and state as worlds have know, in
his one soon to be. -
The jamestown hospital is built on n.
cottage plan, each department having sem.
arate buildings, desirable feature Il
case of fire or contagious disease, In
their construction Jealous care has bsan
exerc sed to introduce whatever imurnys.
ments have been fairly tested in both En-.
rope and America. In heating, yeptile.
ton, light, drainage and water privilege.
easy access and convenient arrangement
OF rooms, nothing seems 10 have slesn
overlooked, which with the uniform ,ass
in architecture and the substantial charae.
ter of the buildings, all combine 10 mats
it model institution. A noticeable fea,
ture is that there ara no iron bars or crates
across the windows, and no appearance
anywhere of restraint or prison life usu.
sually seen about most hospitals. In tbs
wards are all the comforts ard surround.
ings of home, carp.ts, curtains, pictures,
musical instruments, easy chairs and news.
papers, books, lounges, games, Ike ches,
and checkers, with those OF more
active character on the outside. An
amusement hall, with stage and
scenery is provided where dances, parties
and entertainments are given, with billiard
room and gymne sum below. Every de.
slrable measure is used to divert the
mind and recall it from the trains Of
thought to which it is accustomed 10 re.
vert. The percentage of recoveries among
recent cases under this pratical. humane
and homelike treatment is large, and even
among those deemed incurable thers are
mauy instances of recovery by stimulus
to action and thought thus induced. Much
work, in and out of doors, is done BY
patients. The farm and gardens, yield.
ing great variety Of products were titled
by crazy men. The flower and vegetable
garden were the delight and
surprise this fall of all Wis.
itors, and it is doubtful if there
was finer or larger collection of flowers
in the territory. For months before the
recent frosts the wards oveiiowed with
boquets, and patients We'd with attendants
in beautifying their apartments with these
blessings of nature, which up in that clear
northern air blended in sweet union the
brightest colors and richest fragrances. A
conservatory is to be added in which flow.
ers can be grown all the year.
The institution is now i'll the third year
Of its existence, and has cared for nearly
800 patients, half of whom have been re.
turned to home, friends aud reason. Dr.
o. w. Archibald, well known among be-
nevolent workers as the founder of the lows
institution for feeble minded children, il
superintendent, and has gathered around
him an efficient and faithful corps of u.s.
sistants.